The Tübingen Internship (or ministry internship) combines academic theology with pastoral and church practice. Thus, it contributes to the development of your pastoral self-understanding during your studies already. Depending on your study regulations, the module may be mandatory, but we also offer voluntary internship placements. All regional churches in Germany recognize the module.
Specifically, the Tübingen Internship consists of three elements:
Pre-internship course: Each semester, we offer a course for your preparation. We teach basic questions on Pastoral Theology and Empirical Research by practice-oriented examples.
Four-week internship in the semester break after you took the course. We help you to choose an internship, either in a parish or in a specific area.
Multi-perspektive evaluation day where the experience will be reflected.
As they have been carefully designed to build on each other, they must be completed in the appropriate order. Upon completion of the full module and after you have written a short report (5 to 10 pages) you will be awarded 5 credit points.
Please see the pre-internship course on Alma (“Übung zur Vorbereitung auf das Tübinger Praktikum”). Students, especially international guests, are welcome to contact us for individual advice. We are happy to help you with finding a suitable placement. In case you already have a placement in mind we will discuss this possibility with you. However, there is also the possibility of drawing on a pool of possible internships (including parish or ministry internships, but also internships in diaconia or in jail, hospital, media, and many more).
Mentoring
It is important that the internship shows a clear connection to a pastoral profession. A mentor (usually an ordained person) should be available for all questions and for guided reflection on the role and the pastoral theology. He or she accompanies the intern during the internship and provides insights into professional practice. Mentors are informed of their tasks beforehand in a letter. It is not uncommon for mentors to remain an important contact person even beyond the internship.
